By Sunday morning shower and thunderstorm activity had diminished considerably near a weak area of low pressure located about midway between the West coast of Africa and the Eastern Caribbean. Development of this system is not expected anymore as it moves slowly Westward during the next several days and no further advisories were issued.
Still, the disturbance was enough reason for some to review their storm readiness, with the usual peak of the Atlantic hurricane season having arrived. That is certainly a good idea, because in case of a real weather threat there is often little time, while roads tend to get busy and materials to board up doors and windows as well as other basic supplies could be scarce or hard to get.
Parliament’s Central Committee will discuss disaster preparedness today, Monday, at the request of the National Alliance (NA) opposition faction. This debate comes on the heels of a Systematic Investigation by the Ombudsman which concluded that St. Maarten is insufficiently prepared (see Saturday paper).
The report cited a structural absence of vital documents comprising action plans by the various emergency function groups as well as external conditions like procedural rules to access assistance made available through the Dutch Trust Fund. It recommended a comprehensive contingency plan including cooperation with the French side, a scenario of approach, a public awareness campaign, a solution for abandoned properties that present a possible hazard, restructured and guided recycling of materials dumped post-Irma to be redistributed as aid to persons in the most vulnerable areas and to identify, properly equip and announce all available shelters.
In government’s defence, hurricane preparation was number one on the list of projects listed for the initial tranche of 122 million euros the Netherlands transferred to the 470-million-euro recovery fund managed by the World Bank. Of the first US $55 million on which an agreement had been signed in July, $9.2 million was released during the first week of August for repairs to the police and fire stations as well as shelters. Urgently-needed equipment for the Fire and Meteorological Departments, satellite phones and training of emergency personnel are among the items.
In addition, a Hurricane Expo recently took place to give all kinds of relevant information, and a fire drill was held at the Philipsburg police station. When Tropical Storm Beryl approached the region early last month the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was duly activated and three shelters were opened in Dutch Quarter, South Reward and Cole Bay.
Nevertheless, the Ombudsman’s observations need to be taken seriously and elected representatives should ensure they are acted on in a timely manner, because there’s no such thing as overpreparing for a major hurricane. Better late than never.
